An Update from the Bagelry: A Week in Review — October 15, 2026

An Update from the Bagelry: A Week in Review
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Santa Cruz, California

Hot coffee and bagels continue to be served.

As you sit down, you might bump your head into one of the delightful little plant and seashell sculptures created by Kitty Vincent, aka Forest Creeper on Instagram.

I reached out to Kitty for comment about her work and what small, locally owned businesses like the Bagelry mean to the Santa Cruz community.

Unfortunately, she was unavailable for comment.

I surmise that she is busy combing through the beach and forests for driftwood, shells and moss for her next project. “Watch out for the banana slugs, Kitty!”

Wait, never mind … breaking news to my inbox:

“I come in on a weekly basis to water and some of my favorite moments are the conversations about plants with the staff and customers. It’s such a simple, beautiful way to connect with people, share knowledge, and build community. I love having my plants up on the walls and on the drink case, where they can thrive in the light and bring joy to people throughout the day.

Having worked there myself, I know how busy it gets, and I’m thankful they continue to make room for local artists like myself. The Bagelry is so much more than a business; it’s part of what makes Santa Cruz a community.”

— Kitty Vincent, Forest Creeper

For a moment I was pretty sure she was going to say “I come in on a weekly basis …and some of my favorite moments are the conversations I have with the plants.”

So you see, Santa Cruz small businesses are more than places where people buy things. They're places where people meet, exchange ideas, discover local artists, have a laugh, and become part of a community.

The Bagelry Group

A few weeks ago, I introduced readers to an unlikely gathering of Santa Cruz residents who meet regularly at a local bagel shop and who have come to be known as the Bagelry Group.

The Bagelry Group is made up of people from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and professions who share concerns about the future of their communities.

Some are confronting proposed developments in their own neighborhoods. Others are examining the laws, policies, and government decisions that shape how those developments proceed.

What began as a gathering of concerned residents has become a forum for exchanging information, examining possible remedies, and considering what comes next.

And as events across Santa Cruz County continue to unfold, there has been no shortage of things to discuss.

A Week in Review

Workbench continues to dominate the discussion.

On October 13, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda Kosofsky Cogliati denied a petition for writ of mandate brought by Workbench and Sweet Developments LLC concerning the proposed development at 3500 Paul Sweet Road.

But local residents are not out of the woods. (And its likely that neither is Kitty.)

The ruling did not reject the development. It did not resolve the underlying land-use questions or determine whether the project will ultimately be approved.

It resolved a procedural dispute while giving legal effect to county planning staff's application of Assembly Bill 130.

It also established that county planning staff could make the CEQA exemption determination without obtaining the Planning Commission’s approval, effectively placing that determination beyond the Commission’s authority to decide.

Here lies the tension.

The Legislature created a new exemption from environmental review, county planning staff determined that the development qualified, and the Superior Court recognized that the planning staff’s determination as legally effective without requiring the Planning Commission's approval of the exemption.

And like Kitty gathering moss, I’ll continue gathering evidence. After all, these decisions affect the people who live here, and somewhere along the way, the question of who gets a say in their own community comes into play.

On the Agenda

The research continues.

Public-records requests, financial disclosures, court proceedings, and development applications remain under examination.

With the upcoming election, questions about local government, public accountability, and the future of development in Santa Cruz County take on additional significance.

The Bagelry Group meets again tomorrow.

I'll continue publishing investigative reports and updates throughout the week, with a weekly roundup bringing together the latest developments, findings, and stories from across Santa Cruz County.

And if you see someone wandering the forest gathering moss, be sure to say hello.

Until next week.

“And that's the way it is.” — W.C.

Ian Gibb
October 15, 2026